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Summit on A590 safety

Last updated at 13:12, Monday, 30 April 2012

A LONG-AWAITED meeting to discuss safety improvements on the A590 is set to take place this summer.

LONG CAMPAIGN: Janet Willis, local campaigner from Greenodd, MP Tim Farron MP and Parliamentary spokesman for the Lib Dems in Barrow, Barry Rabone have been fighting to get a better A590 road layout at Greenodd for several years MILTON HAWORTH REF: 0474121

Transport minister Mike Penning was invited to visit South Cumbria by MPs John Woodcock and Tim Farron in December last year. The MPs are working together to ensure safety on the road is improved.

A provisional date of June 18 has now been set for the meeting, with the Highways Agency looking to secure funding to carry out an array of changes to the road.

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron said improving safety in the road is of the upmost importance.

He said: “Making sure that we increase safety along the A590 is an urgent priority. This is why I have invited transport ministers up to the South Lakes to come and meet the Highways Agency, parish councils, and road safety campaigners like Sue Sanderson.

“I want the ministers to hear from local residents, hear their concerns, and then I want them to act on them.

“We must push forward improvements at the Gilpin Bridge junction, Foulshaw Lane junction and we must get swift action to build the Greenodd roundabout and take measures to reduce dangerous speeding at Newby Bridge.”

Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock said the meeting would offer a good chance for residents to air their concerns.

He said: “Safety on our main trunk road should never be compromised and I am glad that a provisional date for the minister’s arrival in south Cumbria has been arranged.

“Both residents and users of the A590 have long been asking for a roundabout at the Greenodd turn-off which is an acknowledged accident blackspot, and there are other parts of our main trunk road where safety is an issue. It will be a great opportunity for the minister to meet with local people and hear their views first hand.”

The Highways Agency published an interim route management report for the A590 in December, after 117 deaths on the road in 11 years.

The report recommended a range of improvements that could help improve safety.

Possible changes include a reduction in the speed limit at Brettargh Holt and widening the road at Newby Bridge.

It also looked at the pros and cons of a roundabout at Greenodd.

The agency is working to prepare the final report, which is due to be completed within a few weeks.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Transport confirmed the meeting has been pencilled in Mr Penning’s diary.

She said: “The meeting is for them to talk about the issues and for the minister to see where the MP is coming from and go from that.”

Have your say

It's time to build the Ulverston bypass that has been in the transport plans for years. We are the only town of any size that the A590 still goes straight through. A bypass was built for a few people at High Newton yet thousands of people have to cross the dangerous A590 in Ulverston and put up with the noise and pollution it causes. Give us back our town by building a bypass while there is still a possible route from Newland to Marton

Posted by Glenn on
12 May 2012 at 22:10

The pavements adjacent to the traffic islands in Lindal should be lowered to allow cyclists to avoid the bottleneck they cause. How many pedestrians use them compared to the hundreds of cyclists that are endangered by them.